Disasters and the department called Central Disaster Management Authority

We are experiencing an unprecedented disaster in Uttarakhand since last one week. Since last seven years or so, central government has set up this department called CENTRAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY [CDMA] directly under the Prime Minister - We don't know what it is doing at the grounds level in Uttarakhand. What we read and see on TV is the involvement of following bodies

1.ITBP
2.Army
3.Air Force
4.State Governments
5.Media
6.NGO's

After one week, reports claim that 50,000 pilgrims are still stranded around four pilgrim  centers [ Yamunotri,Gangotri,Kedarnath and Badrinath] and surrounding areas. Administration  does not have correct casualty figures, estimates of time when all these people will be evacuated to safety, issues related to food ,water and medicines for them etc, when the infrastructure [ roads, telecommunication...] will be restored and so on - Where is this Disaster Management Authority in the entire mayhem?

A country as vast as ours is prone to all kinds of disasters. While it is good to have a centralized agency like this disaster management cell, it should have nation wide presence through networks of NGO's,concerned government departments, army cantonments, corporate bodies, and PSUs and suppliers of critical items equipment for each type of disaster.
Such a cell should be small by nature but it should have on its list all agencies who can mobilize resources and manpower. Nothing wrong for example  in Punjab to have on its list SGPC's network of Gurudwaras or list of RSS functionaries who can quickly mobilise its volunteers in any part of the country at very short notice. How about keeping all large temple complexes, Mosques, Churches, Gurudwaras etc on call?
Now the governments have money but does not have the right type of manpower to reach out to the affected. It is time to develop a model involving people and people's organisations.

Since the writing of this blog, it has come to light that this great CDMA was formed in 2006 but has never held any meeting since then. After this tragedy ,they could hold their meeting yesterday [ 25th June] as reported in media.

Ms Aruna Roy and her ilk

It has been a while! In fact more than a year.I am quite worked up by the article by Ms Aruna Roy [ till other day , member NAC ] in TOI today[ 18.6.13]

She has referred to Narendra Modi's comments on Maoists or at least their sympathizers entrenched in UPA II government. This has been the reason enough for Ms Roy to write and publish this article in TOI.She laments this process of "demonizing" of Maoists and their sympathizers. This is truly surprising ,coming from a Left Liberal, a tribe, which has been busy demonizing Modi all these years.This means that Left Liberals are free to be intolerant of those who are not Left Liberals but others are not free to criticize them. If they do, they become demonizers.

Defending the motherland

Since the controversy of his Date of Birth, Gen V K singh is in the news for all wrong reasons.Now we have him telling us that we are really not prepared for a war! This is inspite of plans to spend more than $100 billions in next 15 years on defence and having the second largest army in the world.This is also inspite of India having emerged as the largest importers of arms in the world.
It appears that our defence establishments headed by politicians and babus have not been doing their jobs properly since the bad old days of Bofors.What is needed is speed, clarity and transperancy in matters related to nation's defences. All three are missing.A K Antony, we are told is the most honest Congressman.This is what we have got from him.Dr Manmohan Singh too is honest.And this is what we have.Following needs to be done
1.Develop strategic plans for years 2020,2030 & 2050
2.Draw the lists of equipment needed and the man power needed
3. Appoint an ongoing high power committee comprising of retired senior officers from the armed forces, retired senior bureaucrats, senior political leaders from all parties, defence experts, and members of civil society.This high powered committee, with ample budgets should be mandated to execute these strategies. Decisions related to country's defence should be taken out of the purview of time serving politicians as well as corrupt and incompetent babus.
4.Jail terms for middlemen found bribing any one in the said committee.
5. This high power committee should be appointed by the President,Prime Minister,Leaders of the opposition in LS & RS, Speaker of the Lok sabha, Vice president and the CJC of India.No elections here!

Way forward for BJP

Dusk is settling on the results of state elections from 5 states that went to polls in Feb-2012.
While Congress is a major looser, BJP hasn't gained much traction, except in Goa.Back of the envelope calculations tell us that BJP would win maximum of 25 Loksabha seats, from these states,if elections were held today.This is against more than 100 seats that these states have got.How can BJP improve its tally in these and other states? BJP needs to do following during 2012 to help it cross 200 + mark in 2014 Loksabha elections.
1.Win Gujarat with 140+ seats.Ensure that the party's performance in MP,Rajasthan,Maharashtra state elections improves in the respective assembly elections.
2. Elect Mr Narendra Modi as the party president in December 2012.
3. Declare that BJP is committed to cultural nationalism and the principles of minimal governance.Declare that BJP is committed to creating and maintaining world class infrastructure for the entire country.Declare that BJP does not believe in " buying" electoral support from any section[s] of Indian society based on any " contract" of quota, or jobs or money or things.Declare that all citizens are equal and have equal rights provided by the constitution.A govt or a political party DOES NOT HAVE TO PROMISE AND GIVE ANYTHING EXTRA TO ANY SECTION OF INDIAN SOCIETY OTHER THAN WHAT IS ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION.
4.Make conscious efforts to differentiate from Congress ,Socialists and [above all!] Communists in all spheres of public life and politics.
5.Announce concrete plans for education,training,vocational training,training in sports & atheletics, as well as R & D related initiatives for 65 crores of Indians who are below 35 years of age.That is mega HR plans for next three decades
6.Announce concrete plans for wide ranging reforms in Economy,Administration,Judiciary,Police,Election Commission,labour laws with the aim of bringing transperancy and effciencies in the processes of Governance.
7.Announce a new Foreign policy in line with India's emergence as super power and changed geo political realities in Asia and in the world.
8.Announce a new team of leaders who will lead the party.Announce that all leaders above 75 years of age will not contest any elections.Such leaders will only provide guidance and advice to the younger leadership.
9.Appoint better media advisers
10.Announce that Mr Narendra Modi is BJP's PM candidate.Allies within NDA [ or without] who are opposed to this, may join other alliances of their choice.
If BJP continues to follow its existing strategy, it will continue to get the results what it is getting.BJP needs to be given a new AVATAR by a new leadership.

Vote bank politics at its worst

Congress party is playing with fire in UP elections by crossing all limits to appease muslim voters in UP.First,Rahul Gandhi visited Deoband to seek the blessings of maulanas there,then it promised job quotas to muslims,then at the slightest provocation it " ensured" that Salman Rushdie does not enter India for litfest at Jaipur.
Congress is not even sure whether it will be number 3 or number 4 in UP.If it is ready to play communal politics for such a victory, what will it do to retain power in Delhi?
It is strange that Mr Narendra Modi ,one time Hindutva poster boy ,is going out of his way to co opt muslims in Gujarat in to main stream through his Sadbhavana fasts,Congress is pulling the issues back to Hindu muslim divide.
After elections in UP, BJP and other parties should question the Congress party for having taken electoral politics to a new low.They must ensure that the debate returns to Good governance,Reforms,Transparency,Development etc. Congress deserves to be put on mat for its divisive politics.

Lok Pal

At midnight on 29th December, the much debated Lokpal bill was allowed to die an unnatural death in the Rajya Sabha.Congress party is happy that atleast for the time being ,Lokpal is off its chest.BJP is wondering if it has scored one more brawny point over Congress.People are wondering if they have been cheated once again.Team Anna is busy in strategy sessions.Media is looking for the next big story,of 2012.The corrupt are happy that they can get back to their bad old ways.
I feel that the people have not given it up as yet.They have decided to wait and respond in the elections.It will be interesting to analyse state election results on 4th March 2012 in the light of what happened last night.
Term TRILOK appears in Hindu mythology,explaining the three worlds [Heavens,Earth and Underworlds] TRILOK PAL is our God who ensures that his law prevails in all the three worlds.This TRILOK PAL too appears to be fed up with the corrupt ways of our rulers.He is likely to intervene in favour of people.Reason why I have labeled this post as " Trilokpal"
Wait for the redeemer from above.

Relationship with Pakistan

During SAARC summit in Maldives, our PM issued the statement last night [ 10.11..2011], that he wants country to " Open a new chapter with Pakistan" letting bygones be bygones.
This is strange,coming as it does in repsonse to a big "nothing"from Pakistan.Last week there were talks of Pakistan granting us MFN status, which we have done to them in 1996.Then Paki PM went back on this, while Indian MEA establishment and media continued with the " celebrations" that included counting of chickens by way of export earnings and so on.
It appears, Pakistan is least interested in improving her relations with us.It is interested in taking Kashmir from us and then if possible, destabilising us further through acts of terror.
With such a neighbour, why this government is so keen on improving relations?
Only reason , this pow vow can be explained is vote bank politics of Congress party.It is convinced that it can't win elections without the votes of entire muslim community.Congress believes that Indian muslims vote for a a party that seeks good relations with Pakistan.This might have been true in the past.It is no longer so.Even if it is so, a government is supposed to put the national interests first wrt foreign relations.
Congress by trying to be unduly friendly with Pakistan is playing party politics with our foreign policy.